November 11, 2024 Meet Valley Goat: Chef Stephanie Izard’s Bold New Chapter in Silicon Valley Share Article: From conquering Top Chef as its first female champion to snagging a James Beard Award, Stephanie Izard is a force in the culinary world. Her restaurants – Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra – have become legendary in Los Angeles and Chicago and now, she’s bringing her fearless flavor and community spirit to Silicon Valley. Valley Goat, her newest venture at the Treehouse Silicon Valley, is inspired by the Bay Area’s bountiful produce and her signature global twist. As Treehouse Hotel’s first U.S. property opens its doors, Stephanie is setting the stage for a vibrant culinary experience. Valley Goat promises bold, shareable dishes made with local ingredients and Stephanie’s signature energy. We sat down with Stephanie to chat about her vision for Valley Goat, her inspirations, and her enduring love for playful, unexpected flavors. Your culinary path has been extraordinary. What inspired your journey, and how did it lead you to Treehouse Silicon Valley? I always like to say that I take the road less traveled - and try not to plan too far into the future! I’ve made a great life of taking advantage of opportunities when they come my way and trying my best to live in the present. I’ve just begun to explore the food scene in Silicon Valley, but I already love the variety of cuisines that can be found and, of course, the produce available to work with. We are just excited to get to know the community better and become part of the ever growing food scene. As Valley Goat gets ready to welcome its first guests, how do you see it carving out a unique place in Silicon Valley’s food scene? Because Valley Goat is located in an area with such a great growing region for so many different kinds of produce, my very first goal will be to get to know the local farmers and producers, so we can really celebrate what the valley has to offer. How will the local landscape inspire the dishes at Valley Goat? The style of all of the goat restaurants (Girl & the Goat; Little Goat Diner; Cabra; Duck Duck Goat) has always been playful and unexpected, with a huge focus on hospitality for both the team and our guests. Treehouse perfectly matches our energy and we’re excited to have such a beautiful backdrop to create our dishes. Treehouse is all about embracing fun and creativity—what’s one unexpected or playful element you’re excited to introduce at Valley Goat? Valley Goat will really fit the great vibes of Treehouse. We take the food and the quality of all we do seriously - but we keep it all warm and inviting, playful and fun. As dining should be! Many chefs say music fuels their creativity in the kitchen. What’s on your playlist when you’re cooking up magic for Valley Goat, and how does it inspire your culinary creations? My playlist is literally all over the place! I’ve been listening to a lot of country music lately, from Zach Bryan to Old Dominion, but I always love 90s hip hop…. pop… just about anything that brings energy and good vibes! Share Article:
